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This is the highest point in Co. Kilkenny. Brandonhill is also the name of a townland split between the parishes of Graiguenamanagh and The Rower and between the baronies of Gowran and Ida. There is also a townland named Brandondale in the parish of Graiguenamanagh.
Brandon Hill is the 519th highest summit in Ireland. Brandon Hill is the highest point in county Kilkenny.Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/423/

Turn off the main road at S67766 42279A, taking care when near this point as its easy to miss the turn off.
The forest entrance,S68218 41485B, can be locked so you may need to park(space for 2 cars) and walk. At S68848 40961C cross a stile to your right and follow a rough track next to a stone wall uphill.At S69243 40632D turn right up the track to the summit.
The summit has a large rusting metal cross from 1984, a cairn, a hut and a pillar that locates and names features visible on the surrounding landscape. Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/423/comment/5182/

New Comment:

Grand on Brandon!

by MountainBoy 27 Nov 2016

Me and my Dad climbed this from the farm track off the Graiguenamanagh-Instioge road on 26/11/16. Right after we got out of the car, we were faced with the dilemma of whether to go straight ahead or left. Our shifty iPhone compass was no help, and it was only with much studying of the map that we realised we were supposed to be on the more established path right in front of us! After passing through a concrete stile, we came out onto a stony track that was almost flat. After taking the first right provided, we came to a metal barrier with the most unhelpful stile I have ever seen! After simply walking over the barbed wire and gorse, we followed the track as it turned sharply right and uphill to follow the boundary of a Coillte forest. At this point of the climb, we were constantly stopping to admire the beautiful panorama of the peaks of south Leinster peeking above the seemingly endless sea of white cloud. The track started to become a lot rockier and, due to the low temperatures that day, that meant I was slipping and sliding around. I had to get down onto my hands and knees to negotiate some of the trickier parts! After that traumatising section, we had to choose between two paths that led to hills of seemingly equal height. We chose the first one and were quickly rewarded with beautiful views of the mountains of Waterford and Tipperary. However, we soon realised that the alternative was much higher, so we turned around and headed back to the main path. Quite soon after, we passed a sign pointing right with a cross on it and, knowing that there was indeed a cross on the summit area, decided to follow it. It turned out to be a zig-zag up the hillside. While the final section was quite steep, we were overjoyed to see the trig pillar standing atop the unusually large cairn. There were two lovely ladies on the summit who gave us very useful information about an alternative route. We were very sad to say goodbye. From there it was only a short walk back the way we came to the car and a well-earned Coke and orange juice in Graiguenamanagh! A great climb that we would definitely recommend! Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/423/comment/18719/

Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture from simon3

simon3 on Brandon Hill, 2003

by simon3 6 Dec 2003

One way of reaching the summit is as follows. Leave the Inistioge to Graiguenamanagh road near Sackinstown (S 677 423E) Go SE along an unsurfaced road into the forest (where the road becomes surfaced) to a point near 685 412F. Turn left onto the South Leinster Way. By following various tracks, mostly shown on the OS, arrive at S698 412G, which is a substantial vehicle park at around 332m. (This position was taken by GPS, the tracks on the OS may not be totally accurately shown.) Beyond this, the road deteriorates. From the NE corner of this car park there is a well used track which will lead you to the summit along a ride, a track and over heather. You can actually drive to the car park if you wish to, though beware of bumps and ridges in the road.

Various patches of town lighting are visible in this night view from the summit hinting at the very large area, including coastline, that can be seen. The main patch of light shown here, looking approximately SE, is probably New Ross. Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/423/comment/765/

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Picture from murphysw : Someones put up a cross here, Ted!

Picture: Someones put up a cross here, Ted!

murphysw on Brandon Hill, 2005

by murphysw 24 Sep 2005

I tried to follow Simon's instructions, and I found that road after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing and a bit of process of elimination. I dont think I followed them precisely because after driving up the road I went right at the first fork I came to. This ended in a locked gate and a stile. I parked up and went on my way. Through the gate this track continues. After about 100m it forks, and I took the left fork, which is steeply uphill and unusable by vehicles. After about another 100m this track swings to the right so went straight on over open ground to the top of the ridge in the vicinity of point 417m on the OS map. I soon picked up the track to the summit, the highest point in the county where hurlers start training in the womb! I climbed this the same day I did Mount Leinster and the summit here was mist shrouded as well. There is a large cross here, erected by the local parishioners, a massive cairn, and a box yoke thingy which Simon believes to be the remains of a TV retransmitter. Today it is absolutely filthy and full of rubbish. This is a grand little mountain with a decent variety of climbing conditions and I believe the views to be great on a clear day. Pity I couldn't see them! Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/423/comment/1961/

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Picture from simon3 : Summit, trig pillar and blockhouse.

Picture: Summit, trig pillar and blockhouse.

simon3 on Brandon Hill, 2005

by simon3 24 Sep 2005

According to PW Joyce [Irish Local Names Explained] Brandon Hill is named after St Brendan the Navigator. It is an isolated peak around 12k SE of the Blackstairs. Like the Blackstairs it is mainly made of granite. Like other isolated peaks, the views from Brandon hill are well known for quality, so good in fact that someone has put a direction indicator near the summit. To the NE are the Coppanagh Hills (365m) reputedly interesting for a short walk, though from the map it would appear that the trig pillar on Coppanagh is now in a wood.
The photo shows a night view of the cairn on the summit with its trig pillar, taken from near the direction indicator. The night was relatively clear and on the original picture there are various astronomical objects clearly visible. The square outline on the left is a concrete block house. Paul Clements [The Height of Nonsense] suggests sort of eponymously that "It's the Temple of Zodiac .. It's where you meet old friends before you come to the World's End down there at Nova Villa Pontis" (This was part of the name of a bridge in Newross built in the 12th century. No, no, I don't understand the allusion either.)

A more prosaic suggestion is that the 13m cross on the summit had lights which in turn needed power, a generator and housing. Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/423/comment/764/

I elected to tackle Brandon Hill from the south. Leaving the R705, I turned right onto the laneway at S 718 379H, a location marked on sheet 68 as Ballinvary Irish. It's quite easy to miss this, so keep a look out for a small lane that almost doubles back on itself as you turn off the main road. Follow this track (not recommended for low-slung vehicles!) to the forest gate at S 710 379I, where there's space for one or two cars to park. I then followed the forest tracks (accurately shown on sheet 68) to approach the summit from the south. You pick up some markers labelled "BW" (Brandon Way?) as you make your way through the forest; these will accompany you all the way to the summit. Views from the top are excellent; although not the highest of peaks, its relatively isolated position commands a stunning panorama. Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/423/comment/2422/